Politicians say Social Security, Medicare still in need of reform

On the face of it, an improving economy, a more stable Medicare trust fund and a generally positive outlook for Social Security over the next 10 years would be unequivocally good news in Washington.

But there is growing concern from Republicans in Congress that the news is only going to take the urgency away from fixing the nation's budget problems that are still looming over future generations.

Rep. Vern Buchanan

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, said despite the somewhat positive new reports on the health of Medicare and Social Security, the nation still needs to be tackling reforms to both programs now. About 20 million Baby Boomers are on the verge of retiring and that is going to be a drain on those programs, Buchanan said. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are responsible for about one-third of all government spending.

"I really do think we need to act on a bipartisan basis now," Buchanan said about addressing the solvency of both Social Security and Medicare.

Within the last two weeks, the trustees who watch Medicare released a report showing the trust fund that supports it will remain solvent until 2026 — two years longer than originally projected. They also released a report showing Social Security's trust fund is expected to be solvent until 2033, as was previously projected.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, said those reports should not be celebrated like some are doing in Washington. He said both programs have key structural problems that have them on a course for bankruptcy, hardly a sign of healthy programs. He said Congress should be working on a plan that assures they are solvent well into the future.

"We have yet to fix the holes," Ross said.

Ross said he fears that the trustees reports will push any urgency dealing with entitlement reforms to a back burner — particularly with the 2014 election cycle looming.

Both programs are critical to Sarasota and Manatee counties' economies. Federal data shows the two counties have a combined about 200,000 people receiving Social Security benefits.

Slow to catch up

State Sen. Nancy Detert said the Florida Legislature is behind the times when it comes to dealing with gay rights issues.

Detert

Detert, R-Venice, supported a bill in the Florida Senate to create a domestic partnership registry that would have given same-sex couples some legal rights that other couples have. More specifically it would have allowed same-sex couples visitation rights at corrections facilities, hospitals, serve as a health proxy and make funeral arrangements.

The bill passed a Senate committee on Detert's tie-breaking vote, but never was heard in the more conservative Florida House, where some Republicans see it as a first step toward legalizing gay marriage.

Speaking to about 300 people at Sarasota's Tiger Bay, Detert said everyone knows someone or is related to someone who is gay. She said it is time politicians catch up with the rest of society on the issue.

"This is an issue where the public is way past the politicians," said Detert, whose Senate district includes all of Sarasota and part of Charlotte County.

Veterans bill signed

The punishment for pretending to raise money for veterans group is about to get a little stiffer.

Steube

Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation by State Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, on Friday making it a first degree misdemeanor for a business to hold itself out as a veterans' organization if it does not in fact operate primarily for the financial benefit of veterans and their families.

The legislation also would give legitimate veterans groups the ability to sue and stop groups falsely holding themselves out as veterans organizations.

Steube said the bill was filed before the Allied Veterans scandal, in which law enforcement arrested 57 people tied to the St. Augustine-based nonprofit that ran Internet gaming cafes. The group presented itself as a veterans group, but federal authorities say less than 2 percent of their profits when to charitable groups.

Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigned because of her prior business dealings with Allied Veterans.

Steube, in his second term in the Legislature, represents all of East Manatee, including Lakewood Ranch, and part of northeast Sarasota County.

Area political events

Tuesday

• The Lakewood Ranch Democrats host a discussion on the June 18 ballot items in Manatee County. One ballot item would raise sales taxes to pay for health care for the poor, supporters say. Sue Dickie, chair of the Manatee League of Women Voters, and Lou Murray of the Sarasota-Manatee Democratic Black Caucus will be the speakers. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. For more information, call (941) 704-5971.

• Taking Our Country Back, a tea party group in Englewood, holds its monthly meeting at the Suncoast Worship Center, 881 S. River Road, Englewood. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, go to takingourcountryback.net or call (941) 548-4280.

• The Sarasota County Democratic Party hosts its monthly meeting in North Port. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Beck Hall at St. Nathaniel's Episcopal Church, 4200 S. Biscayne Drive. For more information, call (941) 330-9400.

Saturday

• Gene Jones, president of Veterans for Common Sense, will be part of a Venice Area Democratic Club discussion about veterans health issues. The meeting starts at 11 a.m. at United Church of Christ, 620 Shamrock Blvd., Venice. For more information, call (941) 492-5965.

Jeremy Wallace

Jeremy Wallace has covered politics for more than 15 years.
He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4966.
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Last modified: June 9, 2013
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